Taking care of silver hair

November 9, 2020

Silver can be beautiful, don't you think?

 But you need to take care of it. This is what my tray looked like before I polished it.

Silver hair also needs care. It is more porous, which means it is more easily discolored. Sun, pollution, product buildup, and heated styling tools can all cause yellowing.

I cut my hair really short after I decided to go natural. I was just too impatient to wait for it to grow out, and was tired of seeing the bleached blond ends. It was the shortest it had ever been and I really liked it that way. 

But then COVID happened, and nobody got to get their hair cut. Mine grows fast and it was quite a bit longer when we were able to go back to the salons. By that time I had decided to just continue on growing it out.

But I've found I need to take much better care of it. After all, with a super short haircut and having hair that grows fast, I get a whole new head of hair every six months or so. Hair that reaches the collarbone can be two or more years old!

I have given away my curling iron. I didn't even want to be tempted to use it. It is a killer on silver/gray hair, and will yellow it very quickly, especially if you have any product like hairspray on your hair.

I do use a blow dryer, but only twice a week, on low heat, and only for a short time when my hair is almost completely air dried. I use it just to smooth my hair out.

Despite being very careful I recently noticed that the top layer of my hair looked off, a little yellowy and dull compared to the bright silver underneath. I'm certain it is because of the sun this past summer. Next year, I'm wearing a hat if I spend any amount of time outdoors.

I used a couple of different kinds of purple shampoo with no results.

Then I got the idea to treat just the area affected as if I was coloring my hair. I separated out the discolored hair and covered it (dry) with a dollop of purple shampoo. I put it up in a clip and let it sit for a good half hour. I then washed my hair. Et voila! The yellow is gone!

I wouldn't recommend overdoing the purple shampoo. It's always better to practice prevention than to try and fix things. I overdid it with the purple shampoo when I first went natural for fear of the dreaded yellow. My hair turned a dark iron gray. Yours might turn lavender or blue. 

Now that I've fixed the problem I'll only use it once a month.

I use a shampoo, conditioner, a root lift, and occasionally a little hair spray. Sometimes some dry shampoo. The great thing about using dry shampoo with silvery white hair is that you don't have to worry about hiding any white powder!

These are my current favorite products.

 Redken All-Soft Shampoo and Conditioner.



Redken Guts 10 Spray Foam. I put this on my roots only. I have fine hair, so don't want a lot of product weighing it down.



Kenra Volume Spray 25.


Batiste Dy Shampoo.



For purple shampoo, I use the Redken Color Extend Gradiant Shampoo and Conditioner. This is what I used on my hair, as described above.


I also have the Klorane Anti-Yellowing Shampoo, below, because it contains natural ingredients. It's not actually purple. But I don't care for the smell. I will use it, and the deep conditioning cream that goes with it, but probably won't buy again. 


Occasionally, I use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of residual gel, hairspray, or dry shampoo. This is the Redken Detox Hair Cleansing Cream.

Yes, that's a lot of Redken products. Ulta recently had a sale, two for one, that I took advantage of. I have been using these products for a couple months and love them. They really are worth the extra money. Think how much I'm saving on cuts and color!

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A big thank you to Cheryl from Homespun Devotions for a copy of her book Biblical Minimalism and a Big Daddy Weave CD. I was a winner of her recent generous giveaway. Be sure to check out her blog. She is a treasure.

12 comments

  1. Hello Deborah, I love your new blog look and it looks beautiful!
    It's great that you are taking such great care of your hair and sharing your tips on how to take care of it.
    Have a wonderful week.
    Julie xo

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    1. Thank you Julie for the recommendation. She got it set up so quickly, and was so nice to work with.

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  2. I too went overboard with the purple shampoo and didn't like the result but every now and then you need it. I also cut my very short many years ago when I went with the silver. It was like cold turkey. I was teaching at the time and just before school got out I started letting it go. So I had about a half inch showing at the top. My 4th graders were reminding me it needed attending too. The day school was out I went and got a super short haircut. When I went back the next August there were people who didn't even recognize me. Now, I wear a above shoulder bob and love my hair.
    Now, onto another topic. Is this a blogger blog or Wordpress? IT looks nice and neat.

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    1. It's a Blogger blog. Thank you, I just re-did it. And, haha, children let you know what they think!

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  3. Hi Deborah. Your hair looks to be a beautiful colour. You must be so happy with it. When I studied Cosmetology, Redken was one of THE products to use. It still is. My hair grows fast too. That is a good thing because it means it is healthy. You always share such helpful tips. Hugs...Sandi

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  4. What good information. My hair is silver...very white! I use Pantene shampoo and conditioner and I'm pleased with it. I don't use spray or gel here in Florida...too much humidity to put anything in my hair. I always wear a cap outside because of the bright sun so I guess I've done the right thing for my hair too. Hugs!

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  5. Great job on polishing the silver tray.

    I've never coloured my hair and have been letting it go grey naturally. Since I have black hair, the silver really pops. I'm going to look like Cruella de Vil. LOL.

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    1. You're too funny. Actually, I think that is quite a striking look. Thankfully your personality is nothing like hers!! xo

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  6. I allowed my hair to go natural just after you and I love the results, thank you for the tips.

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  7. Your hair is just beautiful, sweet friend. And, I LOVE your new blog look! It is so clean and crisp looking and professional. I always love coming here to visit you, and what a sweet surprise to see the mention at the end today! Thank you so much for your kind words and precious friendship. You are such a blessing to me, and I am ever so thankful for your presence in my life. May the Lord richly bless you today! Sending love and hugs your way!

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  8. About two months ago, my long hair in braids in true Covid style I woke up, looked in the mirror....grabbed not even sharp scissors and chopped my braids off.

    I am still in shock I did that - especially since my youngest is a licensed Cosmetologist. But she is too busy with Vivian, and I got tired of waiting for a trim.

    Thought I'd share. Kinda way extreme. I think I have lost my mind more than a little bit. My hair grows fast too - but lately, whew, been falling out in handfuls. Just grrrr.

    Your hair is gorgeous - I loved it short cuz you have such a sweet tiny face. Mine (as you know) is huge and fat and square and no way in the world I could have a cute pixie cut. Always loved those ever since Audrey Hepburn made it so adorable, then Twiggy. Just CUTE!

    Anyway, big hugs. Miss you.

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  9. this waa brilliant! my hair is blonde/silver on top and still reddish blond in the length. I haven't had a haircut since May 2019 when, on a layover, I popped into a salon in Glasgow, Scotland and asked, "Can someone here fit me in now?" A lovely young man cut my hair, really liked the cut, but I've been lazy and haven't cut it since. I guess it's just too easy to screw it up on top of my head or at my neck and go. Lately though, the thought of a haircut has crossed my mind. Sandra at Thistle Cove Farm

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